Lonicera plant named ‘Bailelle’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Lonicera×brownii,  ‘Bailelle’, characterized by its dense flowering display of inflorescences in June with consistent repeat bloom into September and October, its flowers that are deep gold in color, its compact twining plant habit, its vigorous growth and ability to grow in a wide range of growing conditions with drought and moisture tolerance, its ability to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, and its hardiness in U.S.D.A. Zones 3 to 8.

Botanical classification: Lonicera×brownii.

Variety denomination: ‘Bailelle’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofLonicera×brownii will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name,‘Bailelle’. ‘Bailelle’ is a new cultivar of Brown's Honeysuckle, a vinegrown for use as an ornamental landscape plant for its funnel-shapedflowers, deep green leaves and ability to cover walls and trellises.

The Inventor discovered ‘Bailelle’ as a naturally occurring branchmutation of Loniera×brownii ‘Dropmore Scarlet’ (not patented) in thesummer of 2003 in a cultivated garden in St. Cloud, Minn.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished underthe direction of the Inventor using softwood stem cuttings in summer of2004 in St. Paul, Minn. The characteristics of this cultivar have beendetermined to be stable and are reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar as grown outdoors in a trial plotfor four years in St. Paul, Minn. These attributes in combinationdistinguish ‘Bailelle’ as a unique cultivar of Brown's Honeysuckle.

-   -   1. ‘Bailelle’ exhibits flowers that are deep gold in color.    -   2. ‘Bailelle’ exhibits a dense flowering display of        inflorescences that about 6.35 to 7.62 cm in diameter on mature        plants.    -   3. ‘Bailelle’ produces a heavy flush of flowers in June and has        consistent re-bloom into September and October.    -   4. ‘Bailelle’ is has a vigorous growth rate and forms a compact,        twining vine that reaches 3 to 6 m in length.    -   5. ‘Bailelle’ is hardy in U.S.D.A. Zones 3 to 8, is drought and        moisture tolerant, and will tolerate a wide range of growing        conditions.    -   6. ‘Bailelle’ attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.

‘Bailelle’ can be compared to Lonicera×brownii ‘Dropmore Scarlet’, theparent plant. ‘Dropmore Scarlet’ differs from ‘Bailelle’ in producingflowers that are orange-red in color and in having slightly smallerinflorescences. ‘Bailelle’ can also be compared to ‘Kristin's Gold’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,836), which is also a branch mutation of‘Dropmore Scarlet’, ‘Kristin's Gold’ has flowers that are bright yellowin color. ‘Bailelle’ can also be compared to the Lonicera×browniicultivars ‘Minstrum’ and ‘Toison dOr’ (both unpatented). ‘Minstrum’differs in having flowers that are copper-yellow in color, and ‘ToisondOr’ differs in having flowers that are clear yellow in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying colored photographs were taken in mid summer andillustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of 6year-old plants the new Lonicera as grown in a trial garden in St. Paul,Minn.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides an overall view of the growth habitand blooming habit of ‘Bailelle’.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the inflorescencesof ‘Bailelle’.

The colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describethe colors of the new Lonicera.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of 6 year-old plants of the newcultivar as grown outdoors in full sun in a trial plot in St. Paul,Minn. with the detailed foliage and flower data collected on 3 year-oldplants as grown outdoors in two-gallon containers in St. Paul, Minn. Thephenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental,climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under allpossible environmental conditions. The color determination is inaccordance with the 2001 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal HorticulturalSociety, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinarydictionary significance are used.

-   General description:    -   -   Blooming period.—Blooms heavily in June with consistent            repeat bloom continuing into September and October.        -   Plant habit.—Compact twining vine, growth is prostrate            unless supported.        -   Length.—Reaches 3 to 6 m in length.        -   Hardiness.—U.S.D.A. Zones 3 to 8.        -   Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility or resistance to            diseases or pests has been observed.        -   Culture.—Grows in wide range of soil conditions in full sun,            drought and moisture tolerant, will tolerate semi-shade but            flowering performance is best in full sun.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.-   Growth and propagation:    -   -   Propagation.—Terminal, softwood stem cuttings.        -   Growth rate.—Vigorous.-   Stem description:    -   -   Shape.—Oval.        -   Stem color.—New growth; 145A, mature wood; 199B becoming            bark with striations of 199B and N200A.        -   Stem size.—Stem base; about 2.5 cm diameter and length,            lateral woody branches; an average of 5 mm in width and            indeterminate in length, new growth; average of 2 mm in            diameter and an average of 25 cm in length on 3 months of            growth.        -   Stem surface.—New growth; Glabrous and slightly glaucous,            mature wood is dull and smooth and becoming bark-like and            ridged as it ages.        -   Internode length.—Whorls near base.        -   Branching.—Average of 10 lateral woody branches with new            growth emerging in opposite arrangement from axillary nodes;            about 20 per plant in a 2 gallon container.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Oval to broadly elliptic with terminal leaves            fused and oval to deltoid.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf base.—Cuneate and fused on terminal leaves (1 to 2            pairs) before inflorescence.        -   Leaf apex.—Rounded with some leaves having a small single            notch at apex.        -   Leaf fragrance.—None.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, somewhat conspicuous but not            prominent, color on upper surface, 144B, color on lower            surface; 144C to 139D.        -   Leaf margins.—Entire.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate with terminal fused pairs            perfoliate.        -   Leaf surface.—Glabrous on upper surface and glaucous on            lower surface.        -   Leaf internode length.—Ranges from 2 to 5 cm with an average            of 3.7 cm.        -   Leaf size.—Up to 8 cm in length and 5 cm in width with            terminal fused pairs up to 4.5 cm in length and 5.5 cm in            width (each).        -   Leaf quantity.—Average of 6 pair per branch 32 cm in length.        -   Leaf color.—Newly expanded leaves; upper surface 144A, lower            surface 138A, mature leaves; upper surface 137A to N137A,            lower surface color 138A with glaucous coating of 191C, fall            leaves; not distinguishable from mature foliage.        -   Petioles.—About 5 mm in length and 2 mm in width, color is            144A on upper surface and 144B on lower surface, glabrous            surface.        -   Stipules.—Typically 2 per leave, held together and upright            on stem, lanceolate in shape, glabrous surface, about 2 mm            in length and 1 mm in width, 144D in color on both surfaces.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Comprised of 2 to 3 whorls of tubular            flowers at terminus of new growth, 5 flowers per whorl.        -   Inflorescence size.—Average of 5 cm in length and 5.7 cm in            diameter on plants grown in a 2-gallon container, on mature            plants in the landscape; inflorescences are larger and range            from 6.35 to 7.62 in diameter with an average of 5.8 cm in            length.        -   Flower buds.—Oblanceolate in shape, upper half 13A in color            narrowing to tube 12C in color with the base slightly            suffused with 144C, an average of 3.5 cm in length and 5 mm            in width (near apex).        -   Flower fragrance.—None detected.        -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—Inflorescence blooms for 2 to            3 weeks with individual flowers lasting about 4 days, lower            whorls begin opening first.        -   Flower quantity.—10 to 15 flowers per inflorescence (5 per            whorl), about 200 per plant grown in a 2-gallon container.        -   Flower type.—Tubular, somewhat 2-lipped.        -   Flower size.—Average of 1.5 cm in diameter and 4 cm in depth            (including exserted stamens and pistil).        -   Peduncles.—Average of 2.5 cm in length to base of            inflorescence and 2 mm in diameter and an average of 6 mm in            length and 2 mm in width between whorls, 145A to 145A            blended with 138A in color, glaucous surface, oval in shape.        -   Bracts.—2, at base of each whorl, held horizontal, broadly            lanceolate in shape, 145D in color, glaucous surface, acute            apex, truncate base, about 1 mm in width at base and 1.5 mm            in length.        -   Pedicels.—None, sessile to peduncle.        -   Calyx.—5 starred, 1.5 mm in diameter and 0.5 mm in depth.        -   Sepals.—5, un-fused portion in triangular shape, acute apex,            fused base, 144D in color, membranous surface with apex            region membranous, about 0.5 mm in length and 0.3 mm in            width on unfused portion, entire margin.        -   Petals.—5, fused into tube with apex of each free, fused            portion is about 3 cm in length and 5 mm in width near apex,            free portion is somewhat 2-lipped with upper lip comprised            of 4 petals flared outward and lower lip comprised of 1            petal that is reflexed, free portion of upper lip petals are            triangular in shape and about 3 mm in length and width, free            portion of lower lip petal is oblong in shape about 7 mm in            length and 4 mm in width, all free petals portions have a            broadly acute apex and entire margin, outer and inner            surface is glabrous, color of inner and outer surface is 13A            with base 13C, non fading and self cleaning.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Gynoecium.—1 pistil, about 4.3 cm in length with about 6 mm            exserted beyond corolla, style is about 3.9 cm in length,            very fine, and 151D in color, stigma is about 1 mm in            diameter and 0.7 mm in width, flattened globose in shape and            N144A in color, ovary is inferior, ovoid in shape, about 3            mm in length and 2 mm in diameter and 144A in color.        -   Androcoecium.—5 stamens, about 4 cm in length with about 5            mm exserted beyond corolla, filaments are 4B in color, about            3.9 mm in length, very fine with lower half adnate to tube,            anthers are about 2.5 mm in length, N199B in color and            dorsifixed, pollen is abundant in quantity and 14D in color.        -   Fruit and seed.—Fruit sparsely produced, true berry, round            in shape, about 7 mm in diameter, produced in fall, about            42A to 42B in color, seldom produced under nursery            production.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lonicera plant named ‘Bailelle’ asherein illustrated and described.